The darker nights and lockdown will have many of us going a little stir crazy. What better time to start planning a property purchase in the sun? Check out these five locations for affordable holiday homes (or sunny retirements) in Spain.
Each has a welcoming year-round community and property that is reasonably priced for the area. These five reasonably priced locations in Spain are also easy to reach all year (unlike many other Mediterranean or island locations).
At the end of each location, check out the link to some beautiful properties there. Fill in the enquiry form on the property website and we’ll put you in touch with a long-established and trusted local agent there.
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Puerto de Santiago, Tenerife, Canary Islands
Anyone looking for reasonably-priced winter sunshine should look at Tenerife. Flights are a little further than those to mainland Spain but the extra miles are worth it for almost guaranteed winter sun. To the west of the island is Puerto de Santiago, which is still a fishing village but which has become popular with foreigners in recent times.
It is a comparatively quiet town. For cocktail bars and full-on nightlife you would need to go to Playa de Las Americas, half an hour away. But there are plenty of quiet bars and restaurants in the town itself. It is just 45 minutes’ drive from Tenerife South airport.
Puerto de Santiago bathed in Atlantic sunlight
The beach and harbour are concealed behind a maze of narrow streets and since it has not yet become a tourist hotspot the restaurants and bars offer excellent meals at reasonable prices.
The town has recently opened a coastal walkway from the harbour to Los Gigantes. There are some smart apartments and villas in the hills above the small blue flag beach. There are plenty of golf courses nearby and Abama golf resort is just 20 minutes’ away which is also residential so you might like to look at property there as well.
Find properties in Tenerife here
Property in Puerto de Santiago
Apartments in Puerto de Santiago start at €100,000 and townhouses at little over €200,000.
Mojácar, Almería
A typical southern Spanish town, Mojácar is perched on a hillside facing the sea. Considered to be one of the prettiest villages in Spain, it’s also an ideal spot for winter sunshine with, some say, its own special microclimate. The population of nearly 7,000 enjoys 320 days of sunshine a year.
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In fact, there are two Mojácars, with two kilometres between them. Mojácar Pueblo is the old town, with pretty whitewashed houses and narrow streets. It invites lazy days and a slow pace of life.
Mojácar Playa offers a 17 kilometre stretch of beach, with numerous restaurants and bars lining the promenade. All sorts of water sports are available. There are no high-rise blocks of flats or hotels visible as there are very strict rules on building.
Golfers can enjoy 3 courses nearby, the closest being Marina Golf Mojácar only 2.8 kilometres away. Here you really will find affordable winter sun.
You can drive to Almeria airport in less than one hour. There is also a bus from the airport directly to Mojácar.
Find properties in Mojácar here
Property in Mojácar
Looking for affordable Spanish homes, in Mojácar will be spoilt for choice. Houses start from just €100,000. A budget of €70,000 will get you a nice apartment (although even those with much smaller budgets can usually find something if they’re ready to grab an opportunity from a motivated seller.
Moraira, Alicante
If you are dreaming of a small, upmarket town on the northern Costa Blanca, look no further than Moraira. It is 100 kilometres from Valencia and 80 from Alicante, with an hour’s drive to Alicante airport.
The town clocks up 320 days of sun a year with average temperatures even in January reaching a pleasant 16ºC. (compared to 7º in Manchester, for example).
As with so many of Spain’s delightful towns, Moraira started out as a fishing village. Even today it has one of the main fish markets on the Costa Blanca. Tourism is now its main industry but happily without the high-rise buildings seen on some parts of the Spanish coast.
The pretty little cove at Moraira
The smart marina and yacht club offers sailing courses and holds regattas in the summer.
Residents enjoy the eight kilometres of beaches and the many little coves and clear waters, all very different to the bustle of crowded Benidorm half an hour to the south.
The area surrounding the town is covered with pine trees, making it feel quite green and pretty. Whitewashed villas dot the hills, some with east-facing sea views, perfect for watching the sunrise over Ibiza, just visible in the distance.
Moraira’s market square is lined with restaurants and bars and surrounded by cobbled streets. There are also wide avenues with fountains and pine trees where you can sit in the shade and people watch.
Water sports, golf, tennis and cycling are all available and of course. Golf is popular here, with seven courses to choose from.
Find properties in Moraira here
Property in Moraira
Property in Moraira is a little more expensive than in some Costa Blanca towns but you can still find affordable homes in what is a delightful location. Apartments start at around €125,000 and houses at €175,000.
Mijas, Málaga
Mijas is only 30 minutes’ drive from Málaga (which is itself a wonderful city full of culture, history and art) and even closer to Málaga airport.
The view from Mijas Pueblo to the sea
Rather like Mojácar, Mijas is divided between an old town and new. Mijas Pueblo is set high up on the Sierra de Mijas and is a gem. The donkey-taxi (burro taxi), which began in the middle of the last century, is a unique way to get around the narrow streets of the old town. It is a beautiful place with a 15th century castle and its gardens, a fabulous view from the Mirador del Compás and streets where there are colourful plants to brighten your way.
Typical white homes overlook the pine clad hillsides and out towards the Mediterranean.
The coastal town, 10 kilometres away from the old town, is home to many British and other international residents. Mijas Costa boasts 12 kilometres of coastline. Every type of water sports such as windsurfing and waterskiing are available. Golf is never far away and here you will have two local courses to enjoy.
La Cala de Mijas is the central point where most amenities are located: library, schools, medical centre, shops, bars and restaurants and the town’s cultural centre. There is a twice weekly market on Wednesdays and Saturdays and in the summer months the promenade hosts classical music concerts and flamenco evenings. You’ll have no time to get bored in Mijas!
There are several residential areas and urbanisations close to the beaches and a newer area known as Las Lagunas.
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Property in Mijas
Compared to some Costa del Sol locations, homes in Mijas are very reasonably priced. In Mijas Costa they start at around €125,000 for an apartment and in Mijas Pueblo €150,000 for a village house.
Yecla, Murcia
A one-hour drive from Alicante airport takes you to the inland town of Yecla. The name derives from its Arabic history at a time when the Moors ruled Spain. Yecla is synonymous with wine, but the agricultural region also produces cereals, almonds and olives.
The town of Yecla
The old town is full of character and provides some wonderful vistas from Monte Arabí where there are 10,000-year-old cave paintings. Nearby are remains of Iberian and Bronze Age settlements.
It has a different feel from the towns on the coast and is genuinely Spanish with all that Spanish culture provides: fiestas and more fiestas!
It is only 60 minutes from the beaches and busy coastal life but Yecla will appeal to those seeking a quieter and slower pace of life. The area has little rain and the summers are hot. There is plenty of winter sunshine and although it can get quite chilly it can also reach 16º in January. Around 15% of the population come from Britain and other countries.
There is an English website that is very useful called Yecla Forum which has lots of tips and practical advice plus help in making new friends off the costa.
Find properties in Yecla here
Property in Yecla
Property is very affordable in and around Yecla. Apartments available from €50,000 and villas from €80,000.
